THE impending huge rise in National Insurance Contributions is not just having a chilling impact on local businesses, it will affect our vital public services.

This week in Parliament Conservative MPs raised the issue of how these changes could impact local police forces.

While the government has said it is compensating forces, it means that much of the annual increase in funding this year will be needed just to cover the extra costs on National Insurance, rather than funding additional officers on our streets.

I know from speaking to residents how important it is for our police to be visible and active.

People want to know that the police will be there if they need to call on them, but we all also understand how a strong police presence can lead to less crime and antisocial behaviour happening in the first place.

You are much more likely to behave yourself if you know there is a police officer in the vicinity.

That is why I was particularly pleased with the opening of the new police front desk in Okehampton last year.

When Devon and Cornwall Police were looking at potential locations for new sites, I was a strong supporter of getting one in Okehampton to benefit people both in the town itself and in surrounding communities.

The desk is open Monday to Saturday and I visited last year to see it in action and speak to staff.

Conservatives in government rightly prioritised local neighbourhood policing, as well as passing tougher sentences for violent crimes.

Back in 2019 the Conservatives promised an additional 20,000 police officers, and I am proud that we delivered on that commitment.

That included beating the recruitment target for Devon and Cornwall Police. That recruitment drive meant that the number of police officers in our region hit a record high.

Our local officers do a fantastic job and I have been out with them in the local area before to hear for myself the issues they are dealing with on behalf of residents.

I was struck when out in North Tawton with Inspector Chris Conway, for example, hearing about some of the issues which can often go unseen behind closed doors but are a hugely important part of what the police have to contend with, such as domestic violence.

And I have worked with our Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, on local policing priorities including drugs and county lines.

I will be watching closely at how the new Labour government approaches policing to ensure we are building on that progress we have made locally, rather than squandering it.

I worry that policies like the National Insurance increase will have wider consequences for services like policing, by ultimately making it more expensive to hire people.

It is all well and good for ministers to say they are providing additional funding, but I would much rather than money was being spent on fighting crime and increasing the police presence in our communities, not swallowed up by tax.

Mel Stride

MP for Central Devon